2001–02 NHL season facts for kids

The 2001–02 NHL season was an exciting year for ice hockey fans! It was the 85th regular season for the National Hockey League (NHL). Thirty teams played 82 games each, battling to make it to the playoffs.

The biggest prize, the Stanley Cup, was won by the Detroit Red Wings. They beat the Carolina Hurricanes in a best-of-seven series, winning 4 games to 1.

During this season, the Dallas Stars moved into a brand new home arena called the American Airlines Center. Also, the NHL honored the victims of 9/11 by having all players wear special patches and ribbons. It was a season of great sportsmanship and memorable moments.

Regular Season Highlights

The regular season is when all the teams play their 82 games to earn points. These points decide which teams get to move on to the playoffs.

How Teams Earned Points

In the NHL, teams get points based on their game results:

• W means Wins: Teams get 2 points for a win.
• L means Losses: Teams get 0 points for a loss in regular time.
• T means Ties: Teams got 1 point for a tie (this rule has changed since then).
• OTL means Overtime Losses: Teams got 1 point for losing in overtime.
• GF means Goals For: How many goals a team scored.
• GA means Goals Against: How many goals were scored against a team.
• PTS means Points: The total points a team earned.

Top Teams in Each Conference

The NHL is split into two main groups called conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The best teams from each conference get to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Eastern Conference Top Teams

In the Eastern Conference, the top teams that made it to the playoffs were:

• Boston Bruins (Northeast Division winner)
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Ottawa Senators
• Montreal Canadiens
• Philadelphia Flyers (Atlantic Division winner)
• New York Islanders
• New Jersey Devils
• Carolina Hurricanes (Southeast Division winner)

Western Conference Top Teams

In the Western Conference, the teams that stood out and made the playoffs were:

• Detroit Red Wings (Central Division winner and the team with the most points in the league!)
• St. Louis Blues
• Chicago Blackhawks
• San Jose Sharks (Pacific Division winner)
• Phoenix Coyotes
• Los Angeles Kings
• Colorado Avalanche (Northwest Division winner)
• Vancouver Canucks

Top Scorers of the Season

These players scored the most points (goals plus assists) during the regular season:

Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a thrilling tournament where the best teams from the regular season compete for the championship. Teams play in a bracket, with winners moving on and losers being eliminated. All these games happened in 2002.

The Stanley Cup

Playoff Journey to the Final

The playoffs start with the Conference Quarterfinals, then Semifinals, and Conference Finals. The winners of each conference then meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

NHL Awards

At the end of the season, the NHL gives out special awards to players and teams for their amazing achievements. The 2002 NHL Awards ceremony took place in Toronto.

• Presidents' Trophy: Given to the team with the most points in the regular season.
  • Winner: Detroit Red Wings
• Prince of Wales Trophy: Awarded to the Eastern Conference playoff champion.
  • Winner: Carolina Hurricanes
• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion.
  • Winner: Detroit Red Wings
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: For the player who leads the league in points (goals + assists).
  • Winner: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For the player who shows great perseverance and dedication to hockey.
  • Winner: Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens
• Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie (first-year player).
  • Winner: Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward.
  • Winner: Michael Peca, New York Islanders
• Hart Memorial Trophy: For the player judged most valuable to his team.
  • Winner: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
• Jack Adams Award: For the best coach.
  • Winner: Bob Francis, Phoenix Coyotes
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenseman.
  • Winner: Nicklas Lidström, Detroit Red Wings
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy: For leadership on and off the ice, and humanitarian contributions.
  • Winner: Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For the player who shows the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.
  • Winner: Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes
• Lester B. Pearson Award: For the most outstanding player, voted by the players themselves.
  • Winner: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
• Lester Patrick Trophy: For outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
  • Winners: Herb Brooks, Larry Pleau
• Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: For the player who scores the most goals.
  • Winner: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating (how many more goals their team scored than allowed while they were on the ice).
  • Winner: Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings
• Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: For the goalie with the best save percentage.
  • Winner: Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
• Vezina Trophy: For the best goaltender.
  • Winner: José Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
• William M. Jennings Trophy: For the goalie(s) on the team that allowed the fewest goals.
  • Winner: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche

All-Star Teams

At the end of the season, the best players are chosen to be on the "All-Star Teams." These are like dream teams of the top players in each position.

Player Debuts

Many talented players played their very first NHL game during the 2001–02 season. Here are some of the notable players who started their careers (their first team is listed):

• Ilya Bryzgalov, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers
• Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers
• Ales Kotalik, Buffalo Sabres
• Henrik Tallinder, Buffalo Sabres
• Erik Cole, Carolina Hurricanes
• Tyler Arnason, Chicago Blackhawks
• Radim Vrbata, Colorado Avalanche
• Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
• Sean Avery, Detroit Red Wings
• Kristian Huselius, Florida Panthers
• Stephen Weiss, Florida Panthers
• Nick Schultz, Minnesota Wild
• Martin Erat, Nashville Predators
• Brian Gionta, New Jersey Devils
• Raffi Torres, New York Islanders
• Trent Hunter*, New York Islanders (played first game in playoffs)
• Chris Neil, Ottawa Senators
• Vesa Toskala, San Jose Sharks
• Barret Jackman, St. Louis Blues
• Alex Auld, Vancouver Canucks

Last Games Played

For some players, the 2001–02 season was their final one in the NHL. Here are some of the well-known players who played their last game (their last team is listed):

• Jeff Norton, Boston Bruins
• Bob Essensa, Buffalo Sabres
• Mike Vernon, Calgary Flames
• Bob Probert, Chicago Blackhawks
• John MacLean, Dallas Stars
• Pat Verbeek, Dallas Stars
• Dave Manson, Dallas Stars
• Steve Duchesne, Detroit Red Wings
• John Vanbiesbrouck, New Jersey Devils
• Valeri Kamensky, New Jersey Devils
• Stephane Richer, New Jersey Devils
• Kevin Stevens, Philadelphia Flyers
• Rick Tocchet, Philadelphia Flyers
• Gary Suter, San Jose Sharks
• Ray Ferraro, St. Louis Blues
• Grant Ledyard, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Dmitri Khristich, Washington Capitals
• Benoit Hogue, Washington Capitals